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Ferrets are a ton of fun to have around, and one of the best things about them is being able to share your food with them. However, there are a few foods that you should keep to yourself, and peanut butter is one of them.
However, the answer to whether ferrets can eat peanut butter isn’t quite as simple as that but ferrets shouldn’t eat peanut butter. To learn more about why you shouldn’t share your spread with them, including what exactly makes it so harmful, read on.
Is Peanut Butter Safe for Ferrets?
Ferrets are “obligate carnivores”, meaning they should eat meat pretty much exclusively. So that jar of Skippy is probably off-limits.
You might think that peanut butter should be fine because it’s high in protein, but ferrets can’t process the nutrients found in plants, which can cause diarrhea, and even put them at risk of developing pancreatic insulinoma, a pancreatic tumor linked to high-carb diets.
Most peanut butter that you find in stores is also packed with sugar and salt, neither of which are good for your ferret. Sugar can cause obesity, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) from overstimulation of the pancreas, insulinoma, and tooth decay, whereas salt can cause a lethal sodium toxicity. Even if you buy the sugar-free organic stuff, though, you’re better off not sharing it as it may still contain plant-based oils, salt, or harmful sugar substitutes like xylitol, which is extremely toxic to ferrets.
If you are considering using peanut butter to get your ferret to eat medication, safer options include ferret-safe meat-based treats or using a meat baby food without onions or garlic. So you really don’t need to offer peanut butter to your ferret.
My Ferret Already Ate Peanut Butter. What Should I Do?
If you’ve been feeding your ferret peanut butter without incident, you should stop immediately rather than tempt fate. Some of the issues that could occur may manifest over time rather than right away, so don’t make the situation worse.
If your ferret has only had a tiny amount, you should probably be fine. Just monitor them to make sure they’re not acting strangely.
If they’ve eaten quite a bit or you’re noticing signs of distress, you should take them to the vet right away. Bring the peanut butter with you so the doctor can read the ingredients label to determine if there are any questionable ingredients beyond sugar and salt.
What Should I Feed My Ferret Instead?
Your ferret needs a diet that’s high in protein, with minimal carbohydrate content, but a good amount of healthy fat thrown in as well. All of this needs to be derived from meat sources.
Most commercially-sold ferret food has everything that the animals need to grow up healthy. High protein, low-carb cat food can be suitable to use in a pinch or emergency for ferrets as well, as cats are also obligate carnivores.
Human-grade meat is also suitable, so long as it isn’t raw. You can cook eggs, chicken, turkey, and just about anything else and feed it to your ferret. Just lay off the salt and other seasonings.
Be aware, though, that in the wild, ferrets eat more than just lean meat. They also consume bones, organ meat, and every other part of any animal they kill. There are important vitamins and minerals in these foods, so it’s essential that your ferret gets them as well. You may want to buy bone-in meat from a butcher and grind it up, and then feed your ferret the resulting ground meat.
Thinking about raw bones for your ferret? Be super careful! Never give them cooked bones—they splinter and can really hurt your pet. If you go for raw bones, make sure they’re the right size. Ferrets have specific dietary needs, including a proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, taurine, and essential vitamins, which must be carefully maintained. Any homemade diet should be based on vet-approved recipes to keep them healthy and safe.
What’s the Verdict? Can Ferrets Eat Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter isn’t toxic to ferrets, but it’s still not something they should eat. It’s filled with sugar and salt, both of which are extremely bad for ferrets.
If you want to give your little buddy a treat, keep the peanut butter for yourself and grab a morsel of meat rather than a jar of Jif for your ferret. They’ll enjoy it more, and you won’t have a sick pet on your hands.
Worried about running out of food for your ferret? Find out what else you can feed him:
- Can Ferrets Eat Cat Food? Is It Safe For Ferrets To Eat?
- Can Ferrets Eat Bananas? Are They Safe To Eat?
Featured Image Credit: MaraZe, Shutterstock
